REVIEW: “Status” by Helen Marshall

Review of Helen Marshall, “Status”, in Tod McCoy and M. Huw Evans, eds., Pocket Workshop: Essays on Living as a Writer (Hydra House Clarion West Writers Workshop, 2021): 63-72 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman. (Read the review of the anthology.)

As both a writer and a teacher (but not — usually — one of writing!), Marshall’s piece really spoke to me. There is little in terms of explicit advice or guidance in it; rather, it’s more like Marshall is telling a story about telling stories, in a way that feels both real and familiar. It’s a piece to read and reflect on, with the moral being found in whatever the reader brings to it themself. For me, that moral is that there’s more similarity between teaching and writing than I think Marshall gives credit to.